Students Oppose Invitation to Chief Justice as Chief Guest at NALSAR Convocation
Around 450 law students have urged the university to reconsider inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, citing concerns over the Supreme Court’s handling of police action against NEET protesters.
An unusual situation has emerged at Hyderabad’s National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, popularly known as NALSAR University of Law, where around 450 students have opposed the reported decision to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for the university’s upcoming convocation.
Students have written formal letters to the Vice Chancellor, Registrar and faculty members, urging the university administration to reconsider the decision. The move has sparked discussion among members of the legal and academic communities.
According to available reports, the students’ main concern relates to the alleged police action against students who protested in Delhi over the NEET question paper leak.
The students have expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s response when the matter came before it. They said the Court declined to take suo motu cognisance of the alleged police excesses.
They have also raised concerns about an incident during the hearing in which a lawyer reportedly attempted to show the Court video footage of the alleged police violence. According to the students, the attempt was dismissed as a waste of the Court’s time.
The NALSAR students have described the reported approach as inconsistent with democratic and human rights principles.
NALSAR has traditionally invited the Chief Justice of India as the chief guest at its convocation ceremonies. However, the university has not yet announced the final date of the upcoming convocation, nor has it officially confirmed Justice Surya Kant’s participation.
The student campaign began on July 23, when 70 students who had completed their LLB programme submitted the first letter to the university administration.
The campaign subsequently received wider support, with around 380 students from the current batch also submitting separate letters backing the demand for a reconsideration of the invitation.
The focus now is on how the NALSAR administration will respond to the students’ objections. It remains to be seen whether the university will continue with its long standing tradition of inviting the Chief Justice or consider the students’ concerns and choose a different chief guest.